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Now Accepting Applications for the Durham County Food Security Grant Program

September 29, 2026

Durham County announces a funding opportunity for community food security projects. Through the Durham County Food Security Grant program, funding is available to organizations that are working to improve food security for Durham County residents.
The USDA defines food security as “access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.” In Durham, 14% of residents are food insecure (Feeding America, 2026). The most recent Durham Community Health Assessment showed that 12% of those surveyed had skipped or reduced the size of meals in the previous 12 months due to lack of money for food. Although many programs support food access in Durham, food insecurity remains a significant challenge.


This grant opportunity is designed to strengthen or expand community-based programs that improve food security for Durham residents. Nonprofit organizations are invited to submit proposals that increase food access and/or address the causes of food insecurity.


A total of $250,000 is available. Grants will range from $20,000 to $50,000, and we anticipate awarding 5–10 organizations. The project period is 12 months. Awards will be announced in November 2026, with grant agreements executed in January 2027.


Projects may use a wide range of strategies, including but not limited to:

  • Providing direct food assistance
  • Helping residents access nutrition programs
  • Building organizational capacity
  • Improving coordination between service providers
  • Offering training in growing, preparing, or sourcing food



Eligibility


Applicants must be:

  1. A nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status or an organization fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3).
  2. Conducting work that takes place in and benefits communities within Durham County.
  3. Working to improve food security for households in Durham; applications must clearly describe how the proposed work improves food security.
  4. Not currently receiving Durham Couty Food Security Grant funding. Recipients of the spring 2026 Durham County Food Security Grant awards are not eligible for this round of funding.


Preference will be given to:

  1. Organizations that are located in or deeply connected to the communities they plan to serve.
  2. Projects that demonstrate shared decision-making with the community they propose serving, especially people who are most directly affected by food insecurity.
  3. Projects that include collaborations/partnerships with other local organizations.
  4. Projects that combine longer term food system changes in their own organization while addressing short term food access needs.
  5. Projects that expand food access for residents who face additional barriers (e.g., disabled or older adults with transportation challenges; families whose income is just above SNAP/WIC eligibility; communities in census tracts with higher levels of poverty).

 

Application Information and Dates

Dates and Deadlines

  • Application Deadline - Monday, October 26 at 12:00pm noon
  • Virtual Information Session Webinar - Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 5:30pm
  • Grant recipients announced - Mid-November 2026
  • Grant program period - 12-month grant program beginning in January 2027

 

Application Instructions and Submission Link

The full instructions with application questions in English and Spanish are linked below as PDFs.

 

For questions, please contact Food Security Coordinator Raina Goldstein Bunnag at rbunnag@dconc.gov or 919-560-9228

Information and Examples from past DCo Food Security Grants

 

For questions, please contact Food Security Coordinator Raina Goldstein Bunnag at rbunnag@dconc.gov or 919-560-9228